entrepreneurship : Development News

Federal Hill has gotten another interior design and home d�cor store.

Curiosity opened last month at 1033 S. Charles St. on the second floor of a rowhome. The shop sells art, antiques, home decorations and gift books. Owner Katie DeStefano sells treasures she finds at auctions and flea markets.

"If it's pretty and fun we have it here," DeStefano says.

The interior designer also sells sketches, photos, prints, and other art pieces she collects on her travels to New York, Los Angeles, and Savannah, Ga.

"Everywhere I go I look for something that catches my eye," DeStefano says. "Every time I get on an airplane something is coming back with me."

The business owner describes the store's style as "sophisticated and fun" with an eclectic mix of furnishings � from 19th century pieces to modern 1960s-style items.

Curiosity is the latest design store to call Federal Hill home. SoBo Design Loft also opened last month. The neighborhood also houses Shofer's Furniture and linen and bath store Phina's for the Home.

DeStefano says she chose Federal Hill because it's full of young, stylish people who will hopefully want to shop at her store.

"I love that people here are young and open to the idea of great design," she says. "A lot of places are not forward looking enough."

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Katie DeStefano, Curiosity

An All-American diner has taken a bite out of Little Italy.

Walter Webb, a longtime restaurant operator at Harborplace, spent $160,000 to open the Diner at 413 S. High St. this month. In early December, the restaurant will include a sports bar on the second floor.

Formerly the site of tapas restaurant Tapabar, the eatery seats 81 on the first floor and 100 on the second floor. The second floor addition will double the space, to 5,000 square feet.

Webb closed his barbecue joint Brown Sugar at the Harborplace food court so operators of the downtown mall could make way for department store H&M. He decided to move to Little Italy to capitalize on the new hotels, apartment complexes, and office workers in Harbor East and Eastern Avenue traffic.

"I love the area," Webb says. "It's an exceptionally great place to work and live. People are right here in walking distance."

The Diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, costing between $9 and $13. The restaurant services nine types of pancakes, New York strip steak, stuffed flounder, sweet potato fries, and peach cobbler.

German cooks Christa Seiler and Claudia Phillips are selling pies, cakes and pastries in the shop as well.

"The people are so friendly," Webb says of Little Italy residents.  "I just love it over here."

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Walter Webb, the Diner

Want a shot of espresso with your dozen roses?

Paula Maher is counting that you do. Last month the owner of the Dutch Connection, a flower shop in Harbor East, opened a caf� in the Bagby Building at 1008 Fleet St.

Called the Black Tulip, the caf� has boosted flower sales 10 percent as people come for the java and pick up a plant, Maher says.

"I always had a feeling that flowers and some coffee and food are a beautiful combination," Maher says. A native of the Netherlands, Maher
trained as a chef in Paris and moved to Baltimore with her husband in 1997.

"Now I have it all � flowers and a little bit of food."

The shop sells soups, quiches, pastries, and coffee drinks. The Black Tulip contains nine tables, plus outdoor seating, and takes up about half of the 1,700-square-foot store.

Maher likes the Harbor East neighborhood because she gets a mix of young residents and area office workers. She also likes that it is close to the waterfront.

A renovated former factory building, the Bagby's tenants include Bagby Pizza Co., Bikram Yoga, Vino Rosina, and PNC Bank.

"It's lively," Maher says of Harbor East. "I like the shops in the area. It's as close as we can come to New York. It's an interesting part of the city."

Maher also operates another Dutch Connection in Belvedere Square.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Paula Maher, Dutch Connection

Red Parrot Asian Bistro has signed a lease for its second location, a space in the upcoming Shoppes at McHenry Row, a mixed-use development in South Baltimore.

According to Jared Meier, retail strategist with Streetsense, the restaurant is one of two locally owned eateries included in the development. The 4140 sq. ft. space is part of a $117 million project being constructed at the former Chesapeake Paperboard Co. site at the intersection of Key Highway and Fort St. in Locust Point.

"We're excited to have them coming in. The addition of the Sushi, Thai, and Asian cuisines is a nice complement," says Meier. 

The site's 48,000 sq. ft. of main street retail space will include a Dunkin' Donuts, M&T Bank, PNC Bank, The Hair Cuttery, and The Green Turtle. It will also feature 80,000 square feet of office space, 250 rental apartments, and two parking garages.

"It'll be a mix of small shop boutiques, retail, and service users along with the restaurants," says Meier.

McHenry Row will also include a Harris Teeter grocery store. Meier expects the grocery store to help attract shoppers from around the area.

Source: Jared Meier, Streetsense
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Serendipity combined with a good reputation can lead to a very good thing. That's what got the ball rolling for the recently opened David & Dad's Express at 1 N. Charles St. David Cangialosi, owner, of the 17-year old breakfast and lunch spot at 334 N. Charles St. says that's how the new location came to be.

"The cafe at 1 N. Charles St. had closed. The building manager, a regular customer, approached us and asked us if we wanted to open something there. He knew all about us and liked what we did and felt comfortable having us there. I looked at it as a chance to open a new restaurant without a big investment because we didn't need to build something from scratch," says Cangialosi.

With just a $10,000 investment, the new location opened in mid-October. As with the original David & Dad's, the location offers freshly made breakfast and lunch items.

"Everything is still made to order but with seating for only about 14 people, the business is mostly carry-out."

The new location is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 3pm. It employs five people.

Source: David Cangialosi, David & Dad's
Writer: Walaika Haskins

A new restaurant serving comfort food and crab cakes is coming to the Bel-Air Edison neighborhood.

Kodi's will open by the end of the year at 3539 Belair Rd. The menu will include a house seafood soup, stuffed broccoli with cheese, mozzarella sticks, and crab cakes, co-owner Jacqueline Rinehart says.

Rinehart, who will run the business with her husband and daughter, says she hopes to create a neighborhood joint where you're "guaranteed a nice family environment."

"It's needed in the neighborhood," Rinehart says of the restaurant. "There's nowhere in the neighborhood to sit down and relax." Rinehart has applied for a live entertainment license with the Baltimore City liquor board so she can feature live jazz.

The area is full of carryout spots but is lacking in full-service restaurants, says Mary Warlow, director of programs and marketing for Belair-Edison Neighborhoods.

"It would be nice to have some variety," Warlow says. "It will be a good addition to Main Street."

Rinehart and her partners remodeled the whole building and installed five 42-inch flat-screen TVs. Rinehart declined to say how much they
are spending to open the restaurant and renovate the building.

"We're always glad when business owners invest in the buildings," Warlow says. "The nicer it is the more likely they'll survive as a restaurant."

Writer: Julekha Dash
Sources: Jacqueline Rinehart, Kodi's; Mary Warlow, Bel-Air Edison Neighborhoods

Bazensky's, a family-owned furniture store, has moved to Middle River and expanded its product line to attract a broader range of clients.

Last month, the store moved from 1727 E. Joppa Rd. in Parkville to 917 Middle River Rd.

The store that once sold mostly dining room sets, patio furniture, and bar fixtures now also carries sofas, bedroom furniture, and a full line of home furnishings.

As the economy went south, Bazensky's could no longer afford to specialize in a particular type of furniture, Owner Miriam Bazensky says. That's because customers are now less interested in spending time and money driving around to various stores to furnish their home.
"People don't want to waste gas going from one store to another," Bazensky says.

The home furnishings business has been severely hurt by the downturn in the housing market.

"It's been a challenge to accommodate [customers]. People are asking for severe discounts but I can't stay in business and give the same discounts as the big box stores," Bazensky says.

The store now has a wider range of prices. Sofas start at $429 and barstools cost anywhere from $99 to $600.
"Some people don't want to spend that much money," Bazensky says. "They need to put food on the table � and we want it to be one of our tables."

The company is spending about $100,000 to move to the 11,000-square-foot standalone building and expand its product line.

But the business owner says she believes the investment will pay off.

"It was risky not to move," Bazensky says.

Middle River seemed like a good location because it is convenient to residents in Cecil and Harford Counties, Bazensky says.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Miriam Bazensky, Bazensky's

A Federal Hill bar is hoping to make some dough with the aid of pepperoni and mozzarella.

Grumpies Pour House is expanding into the Cross St. building next door to its current location and putting in a coal-fired pizza oven, owner John Dolaway says.

Currently, the six-year-old bar at 25 Cross St. serves alcohol and no eats. But once the owners tear down the wall between that building and 23 Cross St., they will serve pizza, salads and maybe wings. Dolaway owns both buildings.

The extra space will allow it to seat another 40 customers, to a total of about 100.

Dolaway says he thought pizza was a good idea since there aren't too many pizza joints in Federal Hill. It could also bring in the family crowd earlier in the evening, Dolaway says.

Dolaway says it's "foolish" to run a bar without offering people something to eat � another avenue to earn money in the same space.

"I think we can make money doing this," Dolaway says. "I feel there is a need for something like this."

Dolaway says he likes Federal Hill because of the vibrant, city life, where people can walk to Cross Street Market and other locales.

"It's a fantastic place for young adults to congregate."

Dolaway says he does not know yet how much the expansion, which will take about six months, will cost.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: John Dolaway, Grumpies

Cajun cuisine and barbeque will soon be on the menu at the Liberty Road corridor.

Baltimore chef and caterer Daniel Brandford is opening the Big Easy at the end of next month at 9820 Liberty Rd. in Randallstown.

The 4,500-square foot restaurant will serve dishes like blackened chicken and catfish, pulled pork, and beef brisket. One side of the menu will feature Cajun cuisine and the other side will contain barbeque items. Brandford says he will keep entrees under $15 in order to compete with T.G.I. Friday's and other chain restaurants.

"I love New Orleans cooking," Brandford says. "It's one of my favorite places to eat and experience new dishes."

The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner and on weekends, breakfast. Brandford hopes to draw area families and workers at the local car dealerships and the police station across the street.

He thought the area in Northwest Baltimore County was ideal for the 134-seat restaurant. Other nearby eateries are largely fast food chains or bars that serve food.

Brandford declined to say what he is spending to open the restaurant.

The Liberty Road area consists of a string of shopping centers, five of which underwent major renovations and streetscape improvements with new landscaping and lighting within the last eight years. The average household income is $60,000, according to the Baltimore County Office of Economic Development.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Daniel Brandford, the Big Easy

Got an idea for a new shop but don't have the startup money?

Downtown Partnership of Baltimore is looking for proposals to set up temporary shops, or pop-up stores, in unused first-floor space in downtown buildings.

The initiative, dubbed OPERATION: Storefront, aims to connect available first-floor building space with entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, artists and nonprofits. Successful applicants will get up to $10,000 to start and operate their business. Funding for the program comes from a property tax surcharge on some downtown commercial businesses that went into effect July 1.

Proposals for the pop-up stores are due Nov. 22. A panel organized by Downtown Partnership will review the entries and select those that are the best fit for any given site.

Pop-up stores have risen in popularity as a relatively low-risk way to fill space as retail vacancies have risen amid a lackluster economy.

The economy has forced some shops to close or developments to stall in downtown Baltimore. A good way to fill those spots is by encouraging entrepreneurs and artists to open temporary stores, says Mackenzie Paull, retail and economic development manager for Downtown Partnership.  

And hopefully, with financial and other assistance, some of these stores will turn into thriving, permanent businesses.

"We're hoping they can blossom into self-sustaining enterprises," Paull says.

Downtown Partnership will help startups negotiate leases and get the necessary permits and licenses from the city.

The area that the downtown advocacy group is looking to fill is bounded by Center Street to the north, President Street to the east, Pratt Street to the south and Greene Street to the west. Priority will be given to proposals that seek to fill space on Charles Street between Lombard and Franklin, and Calvert Street, between Lombard and Baltimore.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Mackenzie Paull, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

As the mother of four growing kids, Pam Corkran goes through a lot of clothes.

Corkran, is opening a consignment shop at 2123 N. Charles St. with the hopes that she can help out other moms, as well as students and professionals in similar shoes.

The Charles Village store called Too Good to be Thru will open Sept. 23 and hold a grand opening that day with food and music.
 
The shop will sell mostly clothes and home d�cor. Corkran hopes she can attract students and professionals at Johns Hopkins University, and area accountants and lawyers.

The shop owner has invested $10,000 to open the 1,750-square-foot store and took classes at the state-run small business development center at Towson University to get assistance with her business plan.

Originally from West Va., Corkran grew up in the neighborhood and wanted to come back to the area to start a business. The two-story store will sell shoes, purses, scarves, hats, skirts and dresses.

"It brought back a lot of memories," Corkran says of being in the neighborhood.

She found the space through a friend who owns the building.

So far, she has been promoting the store at area festivals, including Artscape, and on her Facebook page. 

It took about 18 months to get the building ready for business. It turns out that Baltimore City puts a consignment shop on equal footing as a pawn shop, so she had to get the support of neighborhood associations. She also had to get special zoning approval since the shop is in a residential building.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Pam Corkran, Too Good to be Thru

Roland Park residents seeking vintage fashions from the 1960s and 1970s now have a place to shop.

Myrtle Dove Vintage opened last month at 5006 Lawndale Ave. The 800-square-foot store sells men, women's and children's clothing, jewelry, sunglasses, shoes, wigs, toys and hats. It also sells vintage housewares, including tablecloths, fabrics and pottery.

Owners Michelle Walsh and Mary Walsh-Reynolds last year started an online vintage store on eBay. They seized the chance to open a bricks-and-mortar store when another vintage shop in that space left.

"Vintage clothing has been a passion for my sister and me," Walsh says.

The sisters get their merchandise from estate sales, flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores.

The pair chose the Roland Park neighborhood because it's chock full of residents with plenty of disposable income. The location is also close to a consignment store that sells used designer clothes that complement their merchandise.

Though business has been a little slow in August, Walsh expects it will pick up in the fall as people return from vacation.

The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Walsh declined to say how much the owners spent to open the store.

Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Michelle Walsh

A new restaurant and beer bar is set to open just after Labor Day on Baltimore's west side, replacing the former Lucy's Irish Pub.

Alewife's owner Daniel Lanigan plans to serve new American cuisine, with an emphasis on Maryland food. Lanigan, who owns four beer bars and restaurants in Massachusetts, will offer 40 beers on tap and 100 bottled beers.

Though other restaurants at 21 N. Eutaw Street have had a somewhat short shelf life, Lanigan says he believes he has the recipe for success. Alewife will focus more on the food and shy away from the Irish cuisine that had been a staple in the restaurant's former incarnations.

"Irish cuisine is not known for being spectacular," Lanigan says.

The former Lucy's owner contacted Lanigan to see if he would be interested in the 6,000-square-foot restaurant. Lanigan says he is so far charmed by Baltimore.

"I love it. I think there's a lot of Baltimore pride here."

He is counting on theater patrons at the Hippodrome and Everyman Theatre � scheduled to move to the west side fall 2011 � to fill seats at the 300-seat restaurant. He also hopes to entice neighboring students and workers at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

"It's an underserved area," Lanigan says of the west side neighborhood. With 1,200 residents living within two blocks of the restaurant, there are a "lot of people who don't have anywhere to go."

The restaurant will offer valet parking and employ 50.

Source: Daniel Lanigan, Alewife
Writer: Julekha Dash

The owner of a Howard County furniture store plans to expand to new locations. Nitoo Singh says he is actively looking for sites in Howard, Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties to open another Furniture Express location. He doesn't know how many stores he will open, however: He says it depends on the sites he finds and how the economy fares over the next few months.

Singh is looking for spaces in high traffic areas with good visibility, at around 8,000 to 10,000 square feet.

Furniture Express currently has one location, at 8909 McGaw Court in Columbia, which opened during Memorial Day weekend this year. The 9,000-square-foot building is accessible from Interstate 175 and Snowden River Pkwy. Singh likes the location because he lives in Columbia, making the commute an easy one.

Furniture Express' brands include La-Z-Boy Co., Vaughn Bassett, Best Home Furnishings, Coaster Company of America and Global Fine Furniture. The company can offer faster delivery, between 21 and 30 days, rather than the usual eight to 12 weeks at many furniture stores, Singh says. That's because it mostly sells American-made products, so the chairs and beds don't take as long to get to the showroom.

"These are times when people are looking for instant gratification," Singh says.

Though a lot of furniture stores have buckled during the downturn, Singh hopes he can fare better by controlling his overhead costs, offering shorter delivery times and focusing on customer service.

The store delivers to Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel and Montgomery Counties. It also delivers to Northern Virginia.


Source: Nitoo Singh, Furniture Express
Writer: Julekha Dash

Dana Valery often wished she could pick up organic fruit, milk and eggs every few days from her neighborhood corner grocer the way Europeans do, rather than make the massive trip to the supermarket every couple of weeks. So she and her husband Ernst Valery are making that wish a reality with the opening of Milk and Honey Market. The Mount Vernon shop at 816 S. Cathedral Street will open Oct. 1.

The 1,700-square-foot store is an offshoot of West Philadelphia's Milk and Honey Market, owned by friends of the Baltimore husband-and-wife team. Philly owners Annie Baum-Stein and Mauro Daigle consulted on the design and concept of the Baltimore store.

The store will sell a mix of fresh produce, meats, breads and honey and feature a caf� serving espresso, lattes and fresh-fruit smoothies. Breads will come from Stone Mill Bakery in Lutherville. The couple is talking with a number of local farmers who will supply the produce and cheeses. Valery declined to name them because they are still in the discussion stage.

"We're shooting for high quality products that are fresh and local," Valery says.

The couple chose the neighborhood because it has a nice mix of businesses, residents and students who will hopefully want to shop at a store like theirs. It also lacks a Whole Foods Market or other competing store and is easy to walk around.

Valery says she's catering to folks like herself who often go away on the weekends and can't make it to the local farmers' market on the weekends.

Nancy Hooff and Jim Campbell, a Washington, D.C., couple who own a development company, are also part-owners in the business. 


Read more about what's happening in Mt. Vernon.

Source: Dana Valery, Milk and Honey Market
Writer: Julekha Dash